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When this armed array was
seen to approach, the standard-bearer of the cohort that escorted Galba (he
is said to have been one Atilius Vergilio) tore off and dashed upon the
ground Galba's effigy. At this signal the feeling of all the troops declared
itself plainly for Otho. The Forum was deserted by the flying populace.
Weapons were pointed against all who hesitated. Near the lake of Curtius, Galba was thrown out of his litter and fell to
the ground, through the alarm of his bearers. His last words have been
variously reported according as men hated or admired him. Some have said
that he asked in a tone of entreaty what wrong he had done, and begged a few
days for the payment of the donative. The more general account is, that he
voluntarily offered his neck to the murderers, and bade them haste and
strike, if it seemed to be for the good of the Commonwealth. To those who
slew him it mattered not what he said. About the actual murderer nothing is
clearly known. Some have recorded the name of Terentius, an enrolled
pensioner, others that of Lecanius; but it is the current report that one
Camurius, a soldier of the 15th legion, completely severed his throat by
treading his sword down upon it. The rest of the soldiers foully mutilated
his arms and legs, for his breast was protected, and in their savage
ferocity inflicted many wounds even on the headless trunk.